Mechanism for processing multifilament crimped yarn



A ril 2, 1968 J. D. MOYER ET AL MECHANISM FOR PROCESSING MULTIFILAMENT CRIMPED YARN Filed Aug. 17, 1965 Tls- L a4 25 46 as 45 30 43 a0 44 a0 2 26 N- 27 I 22 A lll 101101031 445 24 EELS 52 .5 /a Y Unit States Patent Office 3,375,559 Patented Apr. 2, 1968 3,375,559 MECHANISM FOR PROCESSING MULTI- FILAMENT CRIMPED YARN James D. Moyer, Wyomissing, and Leon A. Pittman, Jr., Sinking Spring, Pa, assignors to Textile Machine Works,

Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 480,410 6 Claims. (Cl. 28-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention concerns apparatus for expanding or bulking multifilament thermoplastic yarns which have been crimped and then heat set to impart permanence to the crimps. The apparatus comprises a housing containing a plurality of nested tiers of cylindrical members with means for pressing the members of the tiers into closely adjacent relationship. In operation the yarn is drawn between members of adjacent tiers whereby a rubbing action is exerted on the yarn to shift the crimps of the filaments thereof from their nested relationship to bulk the yarn.

The instant invention relates to improvements in mechanisms for bulking multifilament thermoplastic yarns which have been crimped and then heat set to impart permanence to the crimps therein. While the particular manner in which the yarn is crimped is not critical the invention finds its particular field of use in the bulking of yarns having a succession of crimps or corrugations formed therein by knitting the yarn, heat setting the yarn while in fabric form and thereafter unraveling or deknittin g the fabric.

The crimps or corrugations of the several filaments of such de-knit yarns, or for that matter of multifilament yarns crimped by other known processes such, for example, as passing the yarn between intermeshing gear teeth while simultaneously heat setting the yarn, are normally in nested relationship. To impart bulk to such yarn it has been proposed to subject it to what is, in effect, a rubbing action whereby the individual filaments are shifted or re-oriented from their nested relationship to assume positions at least for the most part in different planes. A previously proposedprocess of this typecomprises a pair of brushes the yarn being drawn while confined between the bristles thereof. An alternative means proposed comprises a series of pins mounted in parallel relationship the yarn being drawn over and under a succession of the pins. While the prior proposed apparatus operate successfully to produce the'desired re-orientaion of the filaments and bulking of the yarn they do not have the wear resistance required and otherwise fail to adequately meet the requirements for continued high speed commercial operations.

The instant invention has for its principal object the provision of improved apparatus to perform the bulking operation in the processing of crimped multifilament yarn the apparatus being adapted for use with yarn traveling at high rates of speed, for example in the order of one thousand yards per minute, and for substantial periods of time with a minimum of wear.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved yarn bulking apparatus comprising a group of nested cylinders, preferably of ceramic material, the yarn being drawn through the group at substantially right angles to the longitudinal dimensions of the cylinders.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus as defined in the foregoing object in which the cylinders are mounted in nested layers in a housing and there is adjustable means for yieldably maintaining said cylinders in their nested relationship.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus including a layer of compressible material overlying the cylinders with a pressure plate overlying the compressible layer, and means for adjusting the force exerted by the pressure plate.

Briefly described a bulking apparatus incorporating the instant invention comprises a housing supporting two or more tiers of preferably ceramic cylinders the cylinders of one tier nesting with those of another tier. Within the housing and overlying the tiers of cylinders is a layer of compressible material such as sponge rubber. A pressure plate overlies the layer of compressible material and is urged toward the latter to compress the same and there-by press the tiers together by suitable means such as an adjusting screw or a weighted lever. The housing is apertured to permit the yarn to be threaded between the tiers of the cylinders the yarns thereafter being drawn longitudinally, ie at substantially right angles to the longitudinal dimensions of the cylinders through the apparatus whereby the yarn is subjected to a rubbing action during its passage and the individual filaments are displaced from their nested relationship to lie in various planes.

The invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent when reference is made to the more detailed description which is to follow and to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of an apparatus for processing multifilament crimped yarn said apparatus incorporating the bulking device of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the bulking device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken centrally through the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the device defined by the dot-dash lines 4 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the bulking device incorporating certain modifications.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 the bulking device of the instant invention has been shown as incorporated in an apparatus for processing multifilament thermoplastic yarn which has been crimped by knitting the yarn into a fabric and then heat setting the fabric. Thus in the apparatus disclosed and indicated generally at 10 a container 11 is provided for the knitted fabric which is placed therein in a folded condition with an end of the fabric, at which the unraveling is to take place, uppermost. The yarn Y is drawn from the fabric through a guide eye 13 and led to draw rolls 14 driven in any suitable manner, not shown, by which it is continuously drawn until the fabric length has been completely de-knitted or unraveled. It will be understood however that the fabric may have been previously de-knit or the yarn may have been provided with crimps or corrugations by other means and supplied to the present apparatus as a continuous length and led through a guide eye 13, or its equivalent, to rolls 14. The yarn Y after leaving draw rolls 14 is led to a winder indicated generally at 15 whereby it is wound in the form of a cop or package 16 by roll 17 driven in any suitable manner, not shown. It will be understood that the construction of the winder, as well as the draw rolls, form no part of the instant invention and may be of any suitable or conventional type.

The bulking device incorporating the instant invention is mounted on a frame member 18 in the path of the yarn Y between guide eye 13 and draw rolls 14, the bulking device being indicated generally at 20. Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 bulking device 20 comprises a housing 21 suitably constructed as a hollow block 22 having a rear wall 23, bottom wall 24 and end walls 25.

The front of the housing is closed by cover plates 26 and 27 separated to form a slot 28 through which the yarn may be inserted for threading purposes as will be hereinafter described. Plates 26 and 27 may be secured to the end walls of block 22 by any suitable means such as the screws 30 illustrated. End walls 25 are provided with slots 31 in line and communicating with slot 28 and terminating at their inner ends in eyes 32 (only one being shown). The housing includes a top plate 33 secured to the rear wall 23 of block 22 as by screws 34 which also serve to secure a flange 35 of a mounting bracket 36 to the housing. Mounting bracket 36 may be fastened to frame member 18 as by screw 37.

A plurality of tiers of ceramic cylinders 40 in nested relationship, as shown in FIG. 4, are placed within the housing the cylinders forming a group lying opposite slot 28 with the cylinders extending transversely of the housing. While three tiers are shown a minimum of two may be used if desired. Cylinders 40 are made of any suitable wear resistant, preferably ceramic, material having a hardness of the order of 8 to 9 on the Mo hs scale. For example the material used may be principally composed of an oxide of aluminum or magnesium or a dioxide of silicon or titanium. The cylinders are suitably of a diameter of the order of 0.080 to 0.083 inch and are approximately one-half inch in length-although these dimensions are not critical. Superimposed on the nested cylinders within the housing is a layer 41 of compressible material such as sponge rubber and superposed on the layer 41 is a back up or pressure plate 42. A manipulating pin 43 is secured in plate 42, as by being threaded into a threaded opening therein, pin 43 extending outwardly through a vertically elongated aperture 44 formed in cover plate 26.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 the force exerted by plate 42 against the compressible layer 41 and hence against the group of nested cylinders is controlled by an adjusting screw 45 suitably having a kerfed head 46 for easy manipulation. Screw 45 is threaded into a threaded opening 47 in top plate 33. Lock nut 48 is provided to maintain the screw in adjusted position.

Alternatively the loading of block 42 may be accomplished by the apparatus shown in FIG. 5. In that figure a construction is illustrated which includes a pin 50 secured in block 42 and projecting through an opening in the top plate 33. The outer or exposed end of pin 50 is adapted to be contacted by one arm 51 of a lever 52 mounted on a pivot pin 53 secured to bracket 36. A second arm 54 of lever 52 is adapted to receive a weight 55 mounted for sliding movement thereon. Weight 55 may be adjusted on the lever arm 54 to provide the desired loading of plate 42 and then secured in adjusted position by a thumb screw the head of which is shown at 56.

In processing crimped multifilament yarn employing the apparatus of the instant invention the yarn end Y is drawn upwardly through guide eye 13 and thence to bulking device 20. In the event the latter includes an adjusting screw 45 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 the latter is backed off to permit movement of block 42. Pin 43 is then grasped to raise block 42 and relieve the pressure on layer 41 and hence on the group of cylinders. Yarn end Y is inserted laterally through slot 28 and thence is manipulated between the cylinders of at least two tiers and is forced further inwardly until it is on line with eyes 32. Where three or more tiers of the cylinders are used as illustrated in FIG. 4 the yarn is preferably manipulated to lie over two or more cylinders of one tier and so on as illustrated. On the other hand the yarn may be threaded between only two tiers and in such case only two tiers may be used if desired. The yarn is then carried to the draw rolls and thence to the winder 15. Screw 45 is adjusted, or if the embodiment of FIG. 5 is used weight 55 is adjusted, to provide the desired force on compressible 4 layer 41 and hence upon the group of cylinders to achieve the desired degree of bulking as determined by observation of the yarn drawn through the device.

The take-up rolls and winder are then operated whereby the yarn Y is continuously drawn from the knitted fabric in container 11 the fabric de-knitting in the process.

As the yarn travels through the bulking device the rubbing action of cylinders 40 serves to separate the individual filaments of the crimps or corrugations relationship to cause them to project in different planes to impart a bulkiness and wool-like appearance and feel to the yarn. Due to the abrasion resistant material of which the cylinders are made and to the manner in which they are grouped in tiers no appreciable wear takes place over substantial periods of time even with high speed travel of the yarn, for example of the order of one thousand yards per minute.

Having thus described the invention in rather full detail it will be understood that these details need not be strictly adhered to and that various changes and modifications may be made all falling within the scope of the invetnion as defined by the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for processing multifilament crimped yarn comprising substantially cylindrical members with members of adjacent tiers lying, except as separated by a yarn therebe-. tween, in contacting relationship, cylindrical members toward their nested contacting relationship, and means indicating a path. for said yarn through said group, said path lying at an angle to the longitudinal dimensions of said cylindrical members whereby upon said yarn being drawn through said path a yarn bulking action occurs.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid means for urging said cylindrical members toward nested contacting relationship comprises means for exerting pressure on said group of cylindrical members.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical members comprise a ceramic material.

4. In an apparatus for processing a multifilament crimped yarn, a housing, a multitier group of nested substantially cylindrical members comprised of a wear resistant material within said housing, means indicating a path for a yarn drawn through said group between members of adjacent tiers thereof, a layer of compressible material within said housing overlying said group, a pressure plate overlying said layer and means for adjustably applying pressure to said plate, whereby upon said yarn being drawn through said path a yarn bulking action occurs.

5. In an apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for adjustably applying pressure to said plate comprises an adjusting screw.

6. In an apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for adjustably applying pressure to said plate comprises a lever arm and a weight mounted for adjustment thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,060,058 10/1962 Wilkie et a1 28-67 XR 1,167,636 1/1916 Eastwood 242-1521 1,427,056 8/ 1922 Breen 28-17 1,882,539 10/1932 Anderson 242-153 3,012,303 12/1961 Whitaker et al 28-72 3,102,322 9/1963 Whitaker. 28-72 3,255,506 6/1966 Fritz 19-66 X FOREIGN PATENTS 216,665 2/ 1942 Switzerland.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Primary Examiner.

from their nested a multitier group of nested wear resistant means for urging said 1 

